Traction-engine



No. 627,190. v I Patented June 20, I899. E. HUBER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

(Application filed Apr. 6, 1899.

(No Model.)

Witweooao jvwemto z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HUBER, OF MARION, OHIO.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 627,190, dated. June20, 1899. Application filed April 6,1899. Serial No- 711,890. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD HUBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements intraction-engines.

The object of this invention is to provide improved spring-linkconnections between the bull-wheel and traction-wheel and also toprovide an improved means for connecting said spring-link to theground-wheel and bullwheel.

My invention also relates to details of construction and arrangementhereinaften appearing and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference letters andnumerals indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a partial sideelevation of a traction-engine, showing my improvements applied thereto;Fig. 2, a plan View of the same; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view of thespring-link complete; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional view on the linew a; of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a detail view of the bracket.

The letter A represents a portion of a traction-engine boiler, whichcarries a tractionwheel B upon a shaft O,'as also a bull-wheel D. Thepower from the cylinder of the engine is transmitted to this bull-wheelby means of intermediate gearing, such as shown at E and F,respectively. Such power is transmitted to the traction-Wheel through myi1nproved spring-link G in a manner presently to appear for the purposeof forming a yieldable connection between the bull-wheel andtraction-wheel, so that when obstructions are met with in passing overrough or uneven ground the shock upon the traction-wheel will not act tostrip the gear-teeth not only on the bull-wheel but on the intermediategears; but such shock will be compensated for by my improved spring-linkdevice in an improved manner. Of course I am aware that it is not new toprovide spring-links be tween bull-wheels and traction-wheels ofengines; but so far as I am aware no one has employed this special linkconstruction and these special means for connecting such link to saidtraction wheel and to said bull-wheel, so that a most efficientspring-link connection and the full benefit of such link may beobtainedwithout the liability of breaking away from the bull-wheel orthe ground-wheel.

It will be observed that each end of the spring-link is provided with aneye H and II, respectively. The eye II is adapted to fit upon a stud I,projecting from one face of the bull-wheel J, carried by the engine inany suitable manner. This stud I is rigidly secured to the bull-wheeland is additionally supported by means of a boss K, projecting from thebull-wheel, and which also acts to hold the spring-link out of contactwith the bull-wheel itself. The other eye of the link is mounted upon astud L, projecting from the bracket M, bolted or otherwise secured tothe adjacent spokes of the traction-wheel B. In

order to prevent the spring-link from slipping off of the studs L and I,respectively, I provide cotter-pins N, which pass through the outer endsof the studs. Referring now particularly to the bracket it will be seenthat it has a projection 0 extending outward from about midway itslength. From this extension projects the lug L above referred to. Neareach end of said bracket is provided a pair of lugs P and Q,respectively, such lugs being adapted to fit against the spokes to whichthe bracket is secured. A plate R fits upon the opposite side of thespokes to that of the bracket and is held to the spokes by means ofbolts S, which pass through the plate and bracket at either side of therespective spokes T. Thus by reason of these bolts and lugs the bracketis held firmly in engagement with the spokes of the traction-wheel towhich it is connected. By reason of connecting the bracket to two spokesthe wheel is not subjected to so much strain at any one point.

I will now describe the construction of the link itself. It will be seenthat it is composed of an outer shell or casing U, which is externallyscrew -threaded at each end, as shown at V. Upon one of these ends, isscrewed a cap W, While upon the other end is screwed a shank X. The capW is formed with a hole or opening Y, in which fits a flanged thimble Z,such flanges being adapted to engage with the interior of the cap.Through this cap extends a pull-rod 2, which has a flange 3 near itsouter end, as also an eye H, while at its inner end itis screw-threaded,as shown at 4:, for the reception of a nut 5. Upon this pull-rod andbetween the flanged thimble Z'and nut 5 is interposed a spring 6, asalso a washer 7, immediately adjacent to said nut. Between the washer 7and the shank X is interposed a sleeve 8. Thus as the pull comes on theshankX the thimble Z will act to depress the spring 6, while if the pullcomes upon the rod 2 the Washer 7 will engage With the other end of thespring and act to depress it, which will also give a yielding orspring-like effect. Thus no matter Whether the pull is transmittedthrough the Y driving-gears or whether the traction-wheel meets withsome obstruction the spring-link will yield in either direction andsudden strains will be compensated for, so that the teeth on thebull-wheel or on the intermediate gears will not be broken out.

Having thus fully described my invention, 3

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a traction-engine, the combination with a traction-wheel and abull-Wheel, of a said housing and a shank adapted to screw upon theother end of said housing, and a pull-rod extending through a flangedthimble in said cap and having a spring interposed between said flangedthimble and a Washer mounted on the inner end of said rod adjacent toanut screwed on said rod, and a sleeve between said shank and Washer,all substantially as shown and described.

2. In a traction-engine, the combination with a traction-wheel and-abull-wheel, of a stud rigidly mounted on said bull-wheel, a boss orprojection extending from said bull- Wheel about said stud, a brackethaving a pair of holes near its outer ends, a pair of flangedprojections or extensions extending from said bracket, substantially inline with said hole and adapted to fit against the edges of adjacentspokes, a cap for fitting upon said spokes upon the opposite side tothat of the bracket, a pair of bolts extending through the holes in eachend of said bracket and through said cap on each side of adjacentspokes, a raised portion substantially midway between the ends of saidbracket, a stud projecting from said raised portion, a spring-link, one

end of which fits upon the stud projecting from said bull-Wheel and theother end of which fits upon the stud projecting from said bracket, andcotter-pins adapted to hold said spring-link upon said studs.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD HUBER. Witnesses:

JOHN J. CRAWLEY, ROSTEN CURTIS.

